Just wondering why no WC2006 chatter on here? Am I the only Viet AF watching this thing?

I've been able to view most of the live broadcasts thus far. Except for about a half of the Poland/Ecuador contest, the games have not disappointed. Just now, Trinidad Tobago tied with Sweden 0-0 in a hightly entertaining match. (I was a bit bumped with the score, as I'd hoped for Sweden to go far in the Cup, but that's another story).

Anyone else watching, feel free to jump in and share your thoughts. Those of you not watching, you're missing out!

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watching soccer with friends are more fun than watching it alone

I have already watch all the matches for today. Can't wait for tomorrow!! Woohooo...

U.S.A is playing on Monday and I can't wait. Japan is playing on Monday too so I'm hoping they will win also.

Go USA!!

And for the ASian countries, go Japan!!!!

the match between Ivory Coast and Argintina was awesome.

what channel are the games on?

All support the Netherlands for tomorrow please

ABC and ESPN. Click for TV schedule.

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Yeh, go USA, though I think her chance to make it out of the group is slim. Hopefully US draws a tie from Italy (probable) or Czech (tough), and wins by a bunch against Ghana (not easy at all) to advance based on tie-breaker.

As for Asian nations, I'll root for Korea and Japan, but neutral on Iran. Seems only Korea has any realistic chance of going to the 2nd round.

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what do you call Americans in the second round of WorldCUp ?

Referee !

lol, I think Donovan on the USA team said he believed the US had the ability to win the world cup? NOT if my Brazil has anything to do with it!

Watching the WC is almost pointless without seeing Team VietNam. Oh well, hopefully VietNam will make it next time.

VN will ... probably... have a decent team in 10 years time, IF the governing body does a good job. For now, let's not have VN play anywhere, it's embarassing man!

If you struggle to find a team to support, try Eng-a-land!

^Sorry, I go for Iran and South Korea.

^ Odd choice!

^I got faith in the AFC, Asian countries should do well.

Good luck Vietnam, I just know you're gonna beat everybody.

sad attempt at being funny, typical my den

Was it necessary to call me a N*gga?

I was sincere with my wishes, I want Vietnam to go far in the tournament. Why do you have to turn it into something ugly.

I got the feeling Cambodia will be the next WC Champion.

neinei. you wanna get banned soon? no. then please act accordingly.

and why you want to ban me? because i called that cambodian guy "my den"? there is nothing wrong with that word

no . because you always seem to say the "right" things in threads. and for lack of a better word, immature. and many offensive and persistant.

oh please, i am not the one that usually instigate stuffs, you really need to get out more, 90 posts a day is not doing you any justice

Guys, girls, please keep it WC2006-related only. Thx.

Now back to the games. Some random musings on the games that I was able to watch.

- Netherlands - Serbia (1-0): Netherlands seems to be the real-deal: solid defense, crisp offense. Congrats, Mangafan2! They appear a more complete team than either England or Germany.
- Mexico - Iran (3-1): Business as usual for Mexico. I thought it would be a blowout on the order of 4-0, 5-0. Iran will not make out of the group (duh!)
- USA-Czechs (0-3): Czechs was solid, and won the game handily as expected. Disorgnized play all game for the USA, who will need a miracle (or a win against Italy ) to make it the 2nd round.
- Japan-Australia (1-3): Australia was clearly the better team, but Lady Luck was on Japan's side, until the last 5 minutes of course. Chance of going farther for the Land of Rising Sun team: (see Iran's).

Thoughts?

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It ain't hard to be better than Germany, they're in an easy group and a mediocre team.

True! But Germany is playing on home turf. A disciplined, as it's always the case for the German, and inspired team is dangerous. On any given day, they can hang with and beat anybody.

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On Thursday Australia is playing the Brazilians, I can't wait to see the results after Japan.

Australia will loose against Brazil. Hehehe. Brazil has one of the best team in the world. And if you look at the statistics, they probably will be the country most likely to win the world cup. So that is kind of an easy guess to say that Australia will loose against Brazil. Still i hope the best for Australia. That's because Australia has a dutch coach and i'm a dutchie. And did you know there are like 4 dutch coaches coaching the national teams in this world cup?! Dutch tactical skills must be popular. Hahaha! Though it will be hard to beat that brazilian temperament. But i hope the dutch team will preform well this world cup. We dutchies need a world cup!!! I'm kind of scared though, because i was really impress by the power/speed of the Ivory Coast team and the tactics/coolness of the Argentinian team...

^There is a chance the Aussies might do well but I'll cheer for Brazil.

what the hell wrong with that Australia's coach shoving the japanese medic officials while a Japanese player injured on field ? and it wasn't an accident shove. I think FIFA officials should look into that.

I don't know the exact details about that incidents, but what i've heard about it from the coach statement. It was because the bench of the Aussies ( can i use Aussies? Isn't that a bad term? It just is shorter and kind of sounds nice. ^^ Just wondering. Hehehe) were being harrassed and provoked by that japanese medic. And in the heat of the moment he just did that, wanting to give a statement back to that medic. But the incident before that was more important to him. Provoking the officials. I think Guus is great player in psychological warfare and know what he can or can't do. It wouldn't surprise me that was part of the plan to try to influence officials so their next decissions will be favourable for the Aussies. ^^



*oops no quote needed here... hehehe.

The Aussies are cry-babies

Argentina, Brazil, Germany, England, Italy ... all very good, but there's only one Cup!!!

So, England should win it 'cos England invented football !!!

Are you sure?

England's "victory" over Paraguay wasn't convincing and much more was expected from the match with Trinidad and Tobago. I think England will struggle.

^ The match against Paraguay was just a warm up. The one against Trinidad and Tobago was alright, England dominated the entire game, and won 2-0 against BOTH Trinidad AND Tobago, how about that eh?

Football isnt a pussy game for pussy cry babies though.

England is winning now but they'll be trashed later.

Brazil Vs Croatia
I specially appreciate a tiny country Croatia but played very effortfully.

oh boy!!! the match between Czech and Ghana is so much fun!!! Czechs are 2-o down, 2 mins to go, Czechs need a bloody miracle now !!!

I thought Ghana was going to loose but damn I got pwned.

Already thought Ghana has a pretty good team, but they even impress me more, playing like that against the Czechs. ^^ The Czechs played a bad game though. *shakes head*

Right now the US is playing against Italy, it's still 1-1. Not bad US! ^^ If they win this match they have their fate in their own hands and a good chance in reaching the second round. But what a downpour of reds cards! Anyway the VS just had their goal cancelled because of offside. Still, if they keep on going like that and score, then the outcome of this match will be one of the surprises of this world cup. ^^

Two exciting matches today. That win by Ghana is awesome! Seems they have more than a few good scorers: fast, excellent ball handlings and finishes. Wish the US can borrow one or two from them.

Crappy officiating in the US vs. Italy match. The red cards against the Americans were rediculous. I guess the referee was just getting tired of seeing so many fouls (lots of them simply good acting by the Ita squad, though!). Love the fact that group E now is wide open!

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I doubt that group E is open. Italy is surely gonna go to the next ground. IM not sure that the U.S can beat Ghana. I predict that the match between Italy and Czech would end up in a draw

Australia is playing Brazil in 15 minutes:D:D

Australia were courageous. Brazil were still the masters, though. But Australia still have a good chance.

They certainly do. ^^ Those Aussies played well enough against the brazilian. A win was not expected here. But a draw was very close though. If their finish were better they might have equal the score here and be on their way to the second round. Still, looking at their scores right now, i would say it isn't a bad starting point for the next match. They got their fate totally in their own hands. A win or equal play against Croatia is enough for Australia to move on to the second round, which will btw be a great preformance for the Aussies, who haven't been at a world cup for such a long time. ^^

Italy has the best chance of advancing, but nothing is guaranteed. If they get beat by Czech, which is entirely possible, and Ghana beat US, they'll be out. Worse yet, if they get beat badly by Czech, they're out regardless of the US vs. Ghana's result.


I'm not sure either on how the US will do against Ghana. If the team that played Italy showed up, they have a pretty good chance, as a few (?) of Ghana's best scorers will be out.

An Italy-Czech tie is possible, but I think neither team wants that. For Italy, a tie coupled with a Ghana's win will put Ghana first in the group, meaning Italy will have to play the winner of group F, most likely Brazil.

For Czech, a tie put them in a position where they have to pray for the US to tie or beat Ghana in a low-scoring game.

Lots of different scenerios can happen in Group E, both games on Thursday should be pretty interesting, as everyone badly needs/wants to win.

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France were robbed of a goal against S Korea tonight, the ball was well inside the net but none of the refs saw it, lucky Hankooky!

There is still some arguing whether the "whole ball" was inside the net. Anyway, the Koreans played well enough to earn that tie!

It's hard to not envy their ball club. Gone is the time when Korea has to resort to physical plays to compete. Though still a bit undersize, they now have the strength, skills, and endurance to run with the big boys of Europe/South America. If Vietnam get to, and play competitively in, the World Cup in my life time, I'd die a happy man!

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You better have other dreams too! Otherwise you die an unhappy man...


But S. Korea did earn it's draw. They, unlike the uninspiring french team, did fight to come back after the 1-0 from France. The frenchie just leaned back and hope to walk away with a 1-0 win. Why can't they fight just like they did after the equalizer from S. Korea. *shakes head* The last minute play from both team was certainly a lot more entertaining.